GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

S                                                                                                                                                     2

SENATE BILL 972

Judiciary I Committee Substitute Adopted 4/27/05

Short Title:     Break Into Place of Worship.	(Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:

March 24, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to create the criminal offense of breaking or entering a building that is a place of RELIGIOUS worship.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 14 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 14‑54.1.  Breaking or entering a building that is a place of religious worship.

(a) Any person who wrongfully breaks or enters any building that is a place of religious worship with intent to commit any felony or larceny therein is guilty of a Class G felony, except as provided by subsection (b) of this section.

(b) A person is guilty of a Class F felony if:

(1) The person breaks or enters two or more buildings that are places of religious worship; or

(2) The person is convicted of a second or subsequent violation of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) As used in this section, a "building that is a place of religious worship" shall be construed to include any church, chapel, meetinghouse, synagogue, temple, or mosque, or other building that is regularly used, and clearly identifiable, as a place for religious worship."

SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2005, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.